Holiday Calendar of Dominican Republic 2020 / Días Feriados 2020 Calendario
Dominican Republic Holidays / Días Feriados del 2020 and Important dates to remember.
Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2020 according to the Law 139-97 / Días Festivos – El Ministerio de Trabajo anuncia el calendario para la celebración de los días feriados para el año 2020, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.mt.gob.do
Be aware – On the long weekends the cities usually empty out as most people head to the beaches or the country. Hotels are usually booked to capacity with Dominicans enjoying these long weekends. The highways in and out of the city can be very congested with people coming and going.
January/ Enero
1 – Wednesday – New Year’s Day / Año Nuevo (How Dominicans celebrate Año Nuevo)
6 – Monday – Día de los Santos Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)
12 – Sunday – Día de la Resistencia Heroica/ Day of Heroic Resistance (this is the first year for this day to honor the men and women who fought for a fairer society)
15 – to End of March – Whale Watching (the best place to observe is the Samana Bay)
21 – Tuesday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day / Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)
25 – Saturday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Rat in Barrio Chino / China Town will be held Saturday Feburary 2nd)
26 – Sunday – Natalicio de Juan Pablo Duarte / Duarte Birthday celebrated. Juan Pablo Duarte was born on the 26th. (more information on Duarte).
February/ Febrero
1 through 29 Las Fiestas de Carnaval Dominicano / Dominican Carnival Parties Carnival Dominicano/ Dominican Carnival celebrations happen all month. The weekends are when different communities hold their parades and celebrations. Usually, the ultimate parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo with the best of the best is held the first Sunday in March.
14 – Friday – Día de San Valentín / Valentine´s Day
27 – Thursday – Día de la Independencia / Independence Day – Día de la Bandera / Flag Day. Dominicans celebrate February 27, 1844 as their Independence Day. This the day the country declared its independence again and retook the name República Dominicana (Dominican Republic). A constitution modeled on that of the United States was put forth in November 1844.
March/ Marzo
6 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday – The first day of Lent
8 – National Carnival Parade / Desfile Nacional del Carnaval this year is dedicated to the Province Hermanas Mirabal. Avenida George Washington, Santo Domingo.
8 – International Women’s Day / Día Internacional de la Mujer
19 – Batalla del 19 de Marzo / Battle of March 19 / Important battle for independence was fought on March 19, 1844 in Azua
30 – Batalla del 30 de Marzo or Batalla de Santiago / Battle of March 30 or Battle of Santiago. Another battle won in the fight for independence fought in 1844.
April/ Abril
5 – Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday
10 – Viernes Santo / Good Friday (long weekend from Thursday 9th to Sunday April 12th)
12 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter – one of the biggest vacation times here. How do Dominicans celebrate Easter / Semana Santa? Read all about it.
May/ Mayo
4 – Monday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day (official day May 1st) (long weekend from Friday to Monday)
25 – Día de la Revolución de Mayo / Revolution Day
31 – Sunday – Mother’s Day. (Always falls on the last Sunday in May)
The dates of all the Patronales/ Patron Saints celebrations are on the Patron Saint Celebrations Page.
June/ Junio
11 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day
July/ Julio
26 – Sunday – Father’s Day (Always falls on the last Sunday in July)
August/ Agusto
16 – Sunday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración
September/ Septiembre
24 – Thursday – Día de las Mercedes / Our Lady of Mercedes Day. (more information on Las Mercedes)
October / Octobre
12 – Monday – Día de Colón / Columbus Day also celebrated as Dia de la Raza / Day of the (different) Races (Information about the Faro a Colón / Columbus Lighthouse)
November/ Noviembre
9 – Monday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day (official date is the 6th but changed to make for a long weekend)
25 – Wednesday – The International Day Against Violence Towards Women – November 25th, 1960 is when the three Mirabal Sisters / Hermanas Mirabal, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, from the Dominican Republic, were violently assassinated for their political activism. This day was first commemorated in 1999 following a proclamation from the UN General Assembly. About the Hermanas Mirabal.
December/ Diciembre
25 – Friday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Navidad / Christmas)
31 – Thursday – New Year’s Eve (New Year traditions)
The dates of all the Patronales/ Patron Saints celebrations are on the Patron Saint Celebrations Page.
Be aware that on the long weekends the cities usually empty out as most people head to the beaches or the country. Hotels are usually booked to capacity with Dominicans enjoying the long weekends. The highways in and out of the city can be very congested with people coming and going.
How To Say Months and Days In Spanish
JANUARY / ENERO | FEBRUARY / FEBRERO | MARCH / MARZO | APRIL / ABRIL | MAY / MAYO | JUNE / JUNIO | JULY / JULIO | AUGUST / AGOSTO | SEPTEMBER / SEPTIEMBRE | OCTOBER / OCTUBRE | NOVEMBER / NOVIEMBRE | DECEMBER / DICIEMBRE
Monday / Lunes | Tuesday / Martes | Wednesday / Miércoles | Thursday / Jueves | Friday / Viernes | Saturday / Sábado | Sunday / Domingo
